The last leap year was back in 2016.
That very year will never be forgotten for all
Armenians; we had gone through really tough times which even seemed merely
bearable.
I can't forget a January evening when my grandfather
asked me which year is it (he was 90 years old at that time); I told him it is
2016 and enthusiastically added that it is a leap year. He frowned and said:
"Պա՜հ, փիս
տարի ա/Bah, pis (pis, pislik - Turkish word meaning bad,
dirty, still preserved in our colloquial speech) tari a" (Oh, it
is a bad year). I wondered why and he responded; "They say leap years are
unhappy". What I learned that day, made me sad and thoughtful
for a moment but I forgot about it until the April War started; the four-day
war which shook our worlds.
When we overcame that nightmare I was relieved with a
belief and conviction that at least for 3 years we will live a better life. But
life flies, isn’t it?
On New Year’s Eve, I realized we are about to welcome
nothing but a leap year and though I tried so hard not to concentrate on it, I
was expecting for hard times.
Should I remind you all how this year started?
Bushfires, natural disasters, such as
earthquakes...WARS!
Virus! This all were/are global hardships which were/are
difficult to face and fight against.
It was tough from personal perspective as well. My
family lost a dear person. We still can't get over the loss we had to go
through. That was a crack which will stay with us forever and remind us of heavy
things.
I mean, the year started so hard and I knew it would
have been like that because I memorized my grandpa’s words so well.
I hope one day I will write that leap years bring luck
and my grandpa was told a lie and life proved us both (the one who told and the
one who believed) wrong.
If only!
